NHY 581

As one whose layouts have yet to occupy more than one board, that's worth remembering ! Rob.

That's not really the subject of the thread and is probably better off debated elsewhere. The simple fact is that this will be a bang up to date model delivered at a decent price point, but comparible with the latest 94xx from Bachmann. As for Hornby and their black five, much as I have little or no brand loyalty to them, you're being a little unfair. You have to remember that in your quoted time period of fifty years, the design processes, materials available along with the production techniques ( and manufacturing facilities ) now employed have advanced dramatically, something that Accurascale are exploiting rather well and from which we now are undoubtedly benefiting from. The main difference is that Accurascale are listening to us and producing the items that we, the modellers want and will buy to use. Right, back to researching Great Western goods only bucolic byways for these Panniers to play in. Rob

I'm primarily right handed but....and there's always a but, I shoot left handed ( which raised a few eye brows with the firearms instructors as the SA 80 was set up for 'normal humans' as it was put to me...no issues with the AK 47 though ), I play snooker left handed and, as the Memsahib noticed, I use a spade left handed. I can also use a saw left handed and other hand tools don't present too much of an issue. Other tasks however are right hand only, craft knifing, painting, writing etc etc. Using the NCE is equally easy in either hand but that really cannot be said of uncoupling...... Rob

I'm thinking that's the way to go. I've heard too many in the shop to ignore. But, no stock at Accurascale of decoders or speakers........yet

Top stuff..and how is 6703 shaping up ?

Picking up a point from a couple of pages back ( dangerous but here goes )...... Fiddly yards. Yep, I struggled at Uckfield and at Railwells on occasion with Ewe's fiddly yard being to the right of the scenic section. I tried both combos, as in holding the controller in the left hand or right and uncoupling vice versa. Conclusion. It's not necessarily the position of the fiddle yard but the position of the DCC panel that causes the drama to unfold. Hopefully NotenoughPanniers, sorry, @2ManySpams can help out here ( assuming he's not busy ordering several Accurascale Panniers of course ) but I felt it was easier when we changed the short controller lead for the long dangly lead, thereby allowing us to stand further to the left of the layout.. Of course at Uckfield I didn't change the lead.....or did I ? ......any hows, this subject needs thinking about. At present, the new layout will have the fiddly yard on the left, back to normal S.O.P. but nothing is finalised as of yet. And no, I haven't drawn a plan as I've not got a beer mat or old envelope to sketch it out on and the Memsahib has occupied the dining table to conduct pre-Crimbo craft activities. Rob.

Followed by a Pannier dozing at Sheep Dip....... Rob

A Peckett at Sheep Dip. Rob

Morning all, Last night saw a bit of operation on Sheep Dip, as well as a spot of railway reading. This is a view from the playing.......er....ahem..cough, operating session..... Sheep Dip, all being well, will be at Nailsea in March. Rob.

Hi Nick, Chris, Yep, two copies of what I see as 'The Bible' for small layout builders. I stumbled across a second copy at a silly price and bought it for when I wear out the very well thumbed first copy... Rob

Simon Castens is on here as Not Jeremy. Have a look in the Other Magazine section as he normally introduces the next issue of MRJ.....Or you could contact the Titfield Thunderbolt bookshop in Bath which he owes and runs, as well as Wild Swan of course. I know there are some plans afoot to do something around Iain Rice and his work but no idea what exactly. I'm sure something will emerge in due course. Rob

The Rice shelf ( including a few other notables ) Rob

You'd think I'd remember that..... Edit- suitable correction made.

Rank has it's privileges.......and if that fails....possession is 9 points of the law.... Rob

Morning Dom, Lovely job on the grass. I really like the change in shade. Rob.

No I don't. Accurascale's price point is once again spot but not so different to that of the existing Bachmann 94xx. You can pick up good, boxed examples for anywhere between £40-£70. Some later releases will be more but realistically, not much more. . There will still be a buoyant market for s/h if not new Bachmann Panniers. Rob

Yes. Mine has had a test drive but nothing too strenuous. It's now back in it's box and has been spirited away by Santa's official Chateau Sheep representative for formal unveiling in a little over a months time. But.....it's a bit of a rather nice lump. Rob

Pretty much done deal Chris. ... Has your 6703 arrived ?

Well, I have to say, much impressed by the Pannier shaped news from Accurascale. Top, top, top result ! There will be an order placed for 7754, the Mountain Ash Pannier which will replace the existing version from Modelzone/Bachmann. In addition, with a lead time of Q1 2025, there's plenty of time to formulate a layout around other examples. Yes, the sheep could well go West ! Rob.

Er......hang on, Roger. It's all been very L&NER this year. You've had lots of Flying Scotsmans ( Scotsmen ? ) to chose from, at least one other A3 in 1923 guise, the TMC G5, several A4s coming......oh and the streamlined B17s on their way and, and Hush Hushes......and and the Y7 from Rapido and you will no doubt, as I am, be eagerly awaiting the J67/68/69 also coming from Accurascale...oh and the J52 from Rapido..........so not a completly bare cupboard. I of course would have loved it to have been an E4 but it wasn't to be. That's life. So come on, just let us peasants who also enjoy small useful, incredibly cute Western tank engines, LONG overdue for an upgrade have a bit of the limelight today. Rob.

Well, bloody damn, flippin' good. Needless to say I've sent details to NotenoughPanniers to allow him to get his pre-orders in early. So, could we now, finally, see a bona fide Western Region layout emerge from Chateau Sheep ? Time will indeed tell but with enough lead time before delivery in early 2025......probably. These look splendid........ Rob

In addition to any new plots and schemes for new layout ideas, the inclusion of the Mountain Ash pannier is excellent news. Will sit well with my NCB No.8 Austerity on Sheep Dip.....and I can gracefully retire my Bachmann/Modelzone example of 7754. Top stuff. Rob.

Bloody damn good.....an arrival of Q1 2025 should be just about spot on for the commencing of a new layout.... Rob

Morning John, No, sadly not. Tregarrick ( ?) was extensively featured in the old Model Railways magazine but I don't know off hand which issues. I'm not aware of any other articles or features elsewhere. Rob.